Top 4 Lessons to Learn from the Millennials in the Workplace

Millennials in the workforce have been tagged as entitled and lazy brats. They want higher pay but short working hours. They easily jump at the next best opportunity. They are assertive, opinionated, and honest. If you are a “baby boomer” employer, this may all seem negative to you, and if you can help it, you would rather not hire them. However, you also can’t deny that Millennials are innovative, smart, and fast-learners. Instead of repelling them, accept what they can put on the table and learn from them.

Results are more important that hours clocked in

Millennials value flexibility. They don’t see the point of an eight-hour shift when they can get the job done in six hours. Clearly, this will be good for the company. You can increase productivity and reduce costs. It’s a win-win situation.

Transparency and engagement are important in relationship-building

They want to be involved in decision-making, and thus, they want to be rightly informed. As what Entrepreneur suggests, you must build a culture that depicts the workplace as a safe space for them to speak up. If you want to be able to trust your employees, it must be a two-way street. This is one way to avoid conflicts, and if conflicts cannot be avoided, let an employment mediator step in. Don’t ruin your relationships because you never know who can be valuable for your business in the future.

Good performance must be acknowledged — and rewarded

Talents are exactly what you value in Millennials. The times have equipped them with knowledge and skills that are invaluable in raising the bar for your company. If you want them to keep going at this rate, they need to be recognized and rewarded. Otherwise, they might seek someplace where their efforts will be acknowledged. And like what Tiny Pulse writer Sabrina Son said, you are losing both talent and institutional knowledge.

Communicating your bottom line to your workforce will attract retention

Millennials are looking for more than a work-life balance. They find purpose in their employment — a deeper sense of meaning in what they do. They want to feel that their job matters. Hence, it’s important that you never lose sight of your bottom line and constantly remind them of why you are here and how your business impacts their lives.

Working with Millennials is going to test your patience, but it will also challenge your business structure, process, culture, and purpose. If you treat them right and with the same respect that you want to get in return, engaging them in your workplace might just make a huge difference in your company.